harrow

¹

[har-oh]

noun

1. an agricultural implement with spikelike teeth or upright disks, drawn chiefly over plowed land to level it, break up clods, root up weeds, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to draw a harrow over (land).

2. to disturb keenly or painfully; distress the mind, feelings, etc., of.

verb (used without object)

1. to become broken up by harrowing, as soil.

harrow

²

[har-oh]

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

1. to ravish; violate; despoil.

2. harry.

3. (of Christ) to descend into (hell) to free the righteous held captive.

Harrow

³

[har-oh]

noun

1. a borough of Greater London, in SE England.

2. a boarding school for boys, founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, an urban district near London, England.

harrow

¹

/ ˈhærəʊ /

noun

1. any of various implements used to level the ground, stir the soil, break up clods, destroy weeds, etc, in soil

verb

1. (tr) to draw a harrow over (land)

2. (intr) (of soil) to become broken up through harrowing

3. (tr) to distress; vex

harrow

²

/ ˈhærəʊ /

verb

1. to plunder or ravish

2. (of Christ) to descend into (hell) to rescue righteous souls

Harrow

³

/ ˈhærəʊ /

noun

1. a borough of NW Greater London; site of an English boys' public school founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, a part of this borough. Pop: 210 700 (2003 est). Area: 51 sq km (20 sq miles)

Other Word Forms

• harrower noun
• harrowment noun
• harrowing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrow¹

1250–1300; Middle English harwe; akin to Old Norse herfi harrow, Dutch hark rake, Greek krṓpion sickle

Origin of harrow²

before 1000; Middle English harwen, herwen, Old English hergian to harry

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrow¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish harv, Swedish harf; related to Middle Dutch harke rake

Origin of harrow²

C13: variant of Old English hergian to _harry

Example Sentences

Likewise, “Adolescence,” the towering English autopsy of youth spent online, a harrowing drama masterminded by actor Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini, who filmed his four episodes in four uncut takes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 50-year-old's mask of respectability was ripped away in 2021 as an avalanche of testimonies piled up from women describing harrowing abuse he inflicted upon them.

Read more on BBC

Here is what we know about the harrowing claims of the so-called "weekend snipers" during the war that killed more than 100,000 people and left Bosnia and Herzegovina deeply scarred.

Read more on Barron's

A footballing mausoleum of memories and moments, both awe-inspiring and harrowing.

Read more on BBC

His portrait of his breakdown is harrowing and believable.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• afflict 
• annoy 
• bedevil 
• bother 
• harass 
• hound 
• hurt 
• irritate 
• mistreat 
• molest 
• nag 
• pester 
• plague 
• smite 
• tease 
• torture 
• vex